Building block carrier



United States Patent j BUILDING BLOCK CARRIER Paul Hanner, Nazareth, Pa.

Application September 1, 1954, Serial No. 453,489

2 Claims. (Cl. 294-26) This invention relates to an improved carrier for building blocks.

Most usually, building blocks are lifted or hoisted by type generally possesses, over a period of time one not only suffers fatigue, but also painful abrasions of the hand.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a generally improved building block carrier, which will be so designed as to be swiftly attachable to or disengageable from a conventional block, without requirement of grasping of the block in the hand.

Another object of importance is to provide a carrier of the type stated which will have incorporated therein an improved safety lock means which, though being capable of being swiftly shifted to a release position when desired, will nevertheless securely engage the block against accidental separation from the carrier during the lifting of the block.

A further object of importance is to provide a carrier of the type stated which will be universally usable for lifting building blocks of the four sizes most commonly used, these being the so-called 4, 8", 10", and 12" sizes.

Blocks of these various sizes uniformly attain the same-` j.

height, this being approximately 8".

Yet another object of substantial importance is the provision of a generally improved building block carrier which not only can be readily grasped manually by a user through the provision of a conveniently located handle thereon, but also can be used as a grapple, to which a rope or chain is readily attachable, so as to permit the device to be used as a hoist for building blocks.

A further object of importance is to so design the carrier as to permit the same to be grasped by a user after a block has been hoisted to a selected elevation through the medium of the device, without obstruction from the cable or chain, and without interference with the users shifting of the catch means to a release position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description when considered in conjunction with the attached-drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a block carrier formed in accordance with the present invention, as it appears When in association with a conventional building block;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational View of the carrier per se, the dotted lines showing a second position of the latch, in which the latch or catch means is in locking position;

Patented Jan. 2s, 19581 Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2; v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view online 4 4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

A conventional building block generally designated 10 includes transversely spaced, parallel, flat side walls 12, integrally connected by webs 14 normal to the planes of the side walls, and spaced longitudinally of the side walls to define core openings 16 between the webs.

Such a block is wholly conventional, and may be in any of various sizes. Uniformly, the blocks are all the same height, of approximately 8".

The illustrated carrier 18 of the present invention includes an integral C-shaped frame which is preferably a solid one piece casting of aluminum of a high tensile strength. The frame includes a top bar 24B, parallel with a bottom bar 22 and integrally connected at one end to the corresponding end of the bottom bar by an arcuate bight 24. Adjacent the bight, a straight cross brace 26 is integral with and extends between the top and bottom bars, to strengthen the frame.

This formation of the frame provides a longitudinal slot 25 that is defined between the top and bottom bars, said slot opening at one end to receive a selected web 14 of the block. At the open end of the slot, the bars 20, 22 are respectively formed with beveled end edges 21, 23 respectively, the end edges diverging in a direction outwardly of the slot, to provide guide edges engageable against the end of the web, when the frame is being applied to the web.

Integrally formed upon the top bar 20, medially between the opposite ends thereof, is a relatively short, straight standard 28 extending upwardly from the top bar, and integral with the upper end of the standard 28 is an elongated, horizontally disposed handle 30. The handle 30 and the standard are preferably of circular cross section, and the handle is extended in parallelism with the bars 20, 22, above the top bar 20. A grip 32, of rubber or similar material, is of sleeve formation, and is adapted to receive the handle 30.

Integrally formed upon the inverted L-shaped handle assembly defined by the members 28, 3l), 32, is a cross brace 34 integral at its opposite ends with and extending between intermediate portions of the handle 30 and top bar 20. Brace 34 is spaced a short distance from the leg or standard 28, thus defining therebetween, in cooperation with the top bar and with the top leg 30 of the handle, an opening 3S.

A guide eye 36 is formed upon the intermediate portion of the handle 30, immediately inward of the grip 32. Eye 36'has a shank 38 slidably mounted therein, the shank sliding in a path normal to the lengths of the top and bottom bars. Shank 38 at its upper end, has a laterally projecting, arcuately indented nger 40 adapted to receive the thumb or linger of a user whose hand is grasping the handle in a natural manner. At its lower end, shank 38 is pivotally connected at 42 to a catch or lock element 44, formed as an elongated bar extending in longitudinal contact with one side of the top bar 20, to the free end of the top bar. The catch 44 is pivotally attached to the stem or shank 38 adjacent the inner end of the catch, and intermediate the opposite ends of the catch, below the opening 35, the catch is fulcrumed or pivotally connected to the top bar 20 by a pin 46. At its free end, the catch 44 has a depending tooth 48, the outer edge of which may be beveled in substantial correspondence with the bevel of the bar 20, the inner edge of said tooth being straight and substantially normal to the length of the slot 25.

As will be noted, the major portion of the catch is disposed between the pivot 46 and the tooth or free end of the catch. Accordingly, the catch is adapted to normally gravitate to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, this being the same as the position of the catch shown in Figure 1.

When the catch is in this position, the tooth 48 thereof extends transversely of the open end of the slot 25, so as to partially close said slot.

To limit movement of the catch to its dotted, locking position, there is integrally formed upon the top edge of the bar 20 a laterally projecting stop or abutment 50. This engages the inner end of the latch, when the latch swings counterclockwise against its pivot 46. The purpose of the stop 50 is to prevent the latch from swinging to such an extent as would raise the plunger Ior shank 38 to a height that would make it difficult or uncomfortable for ones thumb to engage over the laterally projecting finger portion 40.

In using the device, and assuming that it is applied as a manually grasped lifting means, the user grasps the handle 30, while the plunger 38 is in a depressed position. This elevates the free end of the latch, and permits the device to be shifted into its Figure l position, that is, into straddling relation to one of the end Webs of the block. When the web is engaged in the slot 25 to the maximum extent, the tooth 48 is positioned beyond the web as shown in Figure 1, and with the plunger released by the user, the latch 44 will shift automatically to its Figure l, locking position, due to the overbalancing of the latch to the left of the pivot point thereof.

The block can now be lifted in comfort and security, and when it has been lifted to the selected location, it becomes necessary that the plunger be depressed While the handle is still grasped, to permit removal of the handle.

If the device is to be used as a hoist or grapple for the building block, a chain or rope, not shown, is extended through the opening 35. The opening 35, in this connection, is specicaly located so as to be in a position in which it will maintain a center of balance of the device and of the supported block. Further, the opening is so disposed as to prevent any obstruction by the cable, rope, or chain attached to the device, when the operator grasps the handle after the block has been hoisted to the selected location. In other words, yassuming that the block has been lifted in the manner referred to, the user merely grasps the handle, and with the rope or chain still attached, depresses the plunger to release the latch, thereby permitting the grapple to be detached from the supported block.

While there is shown and described the preferred embodirnent of the invention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a building block carrier, a C-shaped frame having spaced upper and lower bars, said bars having free ends and other ends, a bight portion connecting and spacing said other ends, a handle on said upper bar at an intermediate point thereof, a catch bar extending lengthwise of said upper bar, means pivoting the catch bar on said upper bar at a point intermediate the ends of the catch bar, said catch bar having an outer end positioned in the region of the free end of the upper bar and an inner end, a tooth on the outer end of the catch bar, said tooth projecting from the catch bar toward said lower bar, and means for moving said catch bar from a locking position in which the tooth projects into the space between the upper and lower bars to a withdrawn position in which the tooth is out of said space, said means comprising a shank slidably engaged with said handle and pivoted to the inner end of the catch bar.

2. In a building block carrier, a C-shaped frame having spaced upper and lower bars, said bars having free ends and other ends, a bight portion connecting and spacing said other ends, a handle -on said upper bar at an intermediate point thereof, a catch bar extending lengthwise of said upper bar, means pivoting the catch bar on said upper bar at a point intermediate the ends of the catch bar, said catch bar having an outer end positioned in the region of the free end of the upper bar and an inner end, a tooth on the outer end of the catch bar, said tooth projecting from the catch bar toward said lower bar, and means for moving said catch bar from a locking position in which the tooth projects into the space between the upper and lower bars to a withdrawn position in which the tooth is out of said space, said catch bar being positioned along one side of said upper bar and being elongated in the direction of the length of said upper bar, and said means comprising a shank slidably engaged with said handle and pivoted to the inner end of the catch bar.

References Cited in the iile of lthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

